- Nisar half-convinced to get back as interior minister even though PM has given him assurance that his concerns would be addressed
- Nisar’s formal return expected after a meeting with finance and defence ministers next week in Islamabad
LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
“Chaudhry sahab why do you get annoyed? You are a senior and important leader of the party,” the premier reportedly said after embracing Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a meeting Saturday which marked the return of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s “angry” veteran in the government while some believe that the minister’s “formal return” is due next week after a reconciliatory meeting in Islamabad with some cabinet members “who are the real bone of contention”.
“One only gets upset with the ones he holds dear. I do get angry at times but can’t even think of quitting the party. It is unjust to doubt my loyalties for if I had a grudge, I would not have come all the way from Chakri to Lahore,” sources quoted Nisar as saying during the five-hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at Raiwind where Nisar’s reservations which led to his resignation were discussed along with other PML-N affairs.
The long-frozen ice broke when the conversation, also attended by Punjab CM’s son Hamza Shahbaz, took a lighter tone when Nawaz and Nisar exchanged smiles over the prime minister’s reference to his telephone calls that Nisar had apparently not been taking.
The premier, who is on a three-day visit to Lahore, had chaired a PML-N meeting Friday which was skipped by Nisar, however this time around, Shahbaz brought the interior minister to their house for a meeting.
During the meeting, the Sharif brothers had to deal with Nisar’s annoyance over non-implementation of the National Security Policy prepared by him and “interference” by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif in his ministry’s affairs.
Nisar had also been perturbed over the premier not taking him into confidence over budgetary matters and NWA operation decision including Taliban talks, while he had also expressed reservations over government’s handling of former president Pervez Musharraf’ case.
While stating that government’s decisions were taken after the consent of majority of party leaders, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told Nisar to “let go of his grievances and get back to work” as his ministry had a very important role in the prevailing circumstances.
Sources privy to the meeting’s details said that the premier also told Nisar that the party held his services in high esteem and it would “not let him go” anywhere.
Addressing the meeting, the interior minister made it clear that he was with the party and would stand by it. As Nisar told the premier that he was not going to leave the party, Nawaz commented that “circumstances do change”.
In response, Nisar made his point asserting, “Others may be frightened by circumstances; not me.”
With the premier still adamant on “certain issues” and Nisar half convinced with the assurances given to him, Nawaz directed Shahbaz to contact other cabinet ministers on the issue.
It is learnt that the interior minister will soon be made to meet Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and others in a meeting next week in Islamabad where the premier will hear the ministers’ issues and try to broker an understanding.